The Sacrament of Christ's Incarnation

From a sermon by Saint Peter Chrysologus, bishop (c. 433 A.D.)

A virgin conceived, bore a son, and yet remained a virgin. This is no common occurrence, but a sign; no reason here, but God’s power, for he is the cause, and not nature. It is a special event, not shared by others; it is divine, not human. Christ’s birth was not necessity, but an expression of omnipotence, a sacrament of piety for the redemption of men. He who made man without generation from pure clay made man again and was born from a pure body. The hand that assumed clay to make our flesh deigned to assume a body for our salvation. That the Creator is in his creature and God is in the flesh brings dignity to man without dishonour to him who made him.

Why then, man, are you so worthless in your own eyes and yet so precious to God? Why render yourself such dishonour when you are honoured by him? Why do you ask how you were created and do not seek to know why you were made? Was not this entire visible universe made for your dwelling? It was for you that the light dispelled the overshadowing gloom; for your sake was the night regulated and the day measured, and for you were the heavens embellished with the varying brilliance of the sun, the moon and the stars. The earth was adorned with flowers, groves and fruit; and the constant marvellous variety of lovely living things was created in the air, the fields, and the seas for you, lest sad solitude destroy the joy of God’s new creation. And the Creator still works to devise things that can add to your glory. He has made you in his image that you might in your person make the invisible Creator present on earth; he has made you his legate, so that the vast empire of the world might have the Lord’s representative. Then in his mercy God assumed what he made in you; he wanted now to be truly manifest in man, just as he had wished to be revealed in man as in an image. Now he would be in reality what he had submitted to be in symbol. And so Christ is born that by his birth he might restore our nature. He became a child, was fed, and grew that he might inaugurate the one perfect age to remain for ever as he had created it. He supports man that man might no longer fall.

And the creature he had formed of earth he now makes heavenly, and what he had endowed with a human soul he now vivifies to become a heavenly spirit. In this way he fully raised man to God, and left in him neither sin, nor death, nor travail, nor pain, nor anything earthly, with the grace of our Lord Christ Jesus, who lives and reigns with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, for all the

Organ Prelude

“The great Creator of the worlds,”........................................................ Hymn 298

Introit: We have waited, O God, for thy loving kindness in the midst of thy temple; according to thy Name, O God, so is thy praise unto the world’s end: thy right hand is full of righteousness. Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised: in the city of our God, even upon his holy hill. Glory be...and to the Holy Ghost. As it was...and ever shall be: world

Gradual: Be though my strong rock, and house of defence: that thou mayest save me. In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

Gospel for the 8th Sunday after Trinity Page 201

Alleluia. Alleluia Thou, Great is the Lord people. Alleluia.

Nicene Creed Page 71

“Come down, O Love divine,” .....................................................................Hymn 376

Sermon given by Fr. Gordon Hines+ Prayer Intentions Prayer for the Whole Church Page 74 Confessions & Absolution Page 75 Sursum Corda Page 76

Sanctus & Benedictus ............................................................................ 797

The Consecration Page 80 The Lord’s Prayer .................................................................................. 722 Agnus Dei ............................................................................................... 712

Prayer of Humble Access Page 82

THE COMMUNION

“O God, unseen yet ever near,”............................................................... Hymn 198 (i) General Thanksgiving Page 83 The Peace and Benediction Page 84

“God the Omnipotent!” .......................................................................... Hymn 523

Flowers on the altar are given by Carol Starr in loving memory of Matthew Willer.

We employ the rich Ceremonial of the historic Church in our worship. While it may seem a bit strange or unnatural to you at first, be patient. The liturgical heritage of the Church WILL speak to you in time, as it has to Christians through the centuries.

Diocese of the Southwestern States

The Rt. Rev. Frederick G. Morrison
4040 East 91st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136

Anglican Province of Christ the King

Rector -The Rev. Gordon W. Hines Senior Warden -Howard Winters Assisting -The Rev. Yates C. Greer, Ph.D. Junior Warden -Tom Covert Music Director -John G. Riley Secretary -Howard Winters Altar Guild Directoress -Rae Waite Youth Group Director -Julie Viacava Sunday School Director -Kim Jones ACW President -Sharon Zurfluh Treasurer -Charlton Wood